A slight misstep on a rocky trail up Blacktail Butte in Grand Teton National Park triggered a ground-based rescue of an injured hiker this past Saturday evening (August 10th). Claude Belliot, age 53, of New York State seriously injured her ankle on a steep section of the trail just before 6 p.m. while hiking near the butte's summit with a companion.
Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received a re-routed 911 call from the Teton County Sherriff's Office about 6 p.m. on Saturday. A park ranger drove from the Jenny Lake ranger station, some 15 miles away, and hiked up the Blacktail Butte Trail to meet Belliot, assess her injury and make arrangements for a ground-based rescue via wheeled litter. Additional park staff were summoned to assist in the rescue, and employees from the park's vegetation management crew, staff from Teton Interagency Fire, and additional rangers from the Gros Ventre subdistrict helped transport Belliot using the wheeled litter.
Due to the steepness and loose rocky surface of the trail, it required seven people to navigate the wheeled litter over a distance of more than one mile and a decline of about one thousand vertical feet from a point near Blacktail Butte's summit, elevation 7,688 feet, to a waiting park ambulance at 6,600 feet on the southern end of Mormon Row Road. Belliot was placed in the park ambulance at 9 p.m. and transported to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson.
Park rangers generally choose to initiate a ground-based rescue whenever an injured person does not have life threatening injuries, and when weather conditions and time of day allow for this option to be effective. Quite often, a ground-based rescue requires numerous park personnel and significant time to execute. Though not as expedient as a helicopter evacuation, a ground-based rescue can be fairly technical in nature and equally difficult under various conditions.
Jeff
Hiking in Glacier.com
Showing posts with label injured hiker. Show all posts
Showing posts with label injured hiker. Show all posts
Monday, August 12, 2013
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Injured Hiker Rescued from Hanging Canyon in Grand Tetons
And yet another rescue in Grand Teton National Park. Rangers had to rescue an injured hiker yesterday, after he slipped and tumbled 20 feet on rocky terrain and sustained facial and lower leg injuries. Paul Danes, 23, of Raleigh, North Carolina was scrambling alone and off trail near the mouth of Hanging Canyon at the time of his accident.
Other day hikers who were in the Hanging Canyon area heard cries for help and discovered Danes. They provided basic care for his injuries and placed a cell phone call for help at 12:45 p.m. that was received by Teton Interagency Dispatch Center.
Based upon the call and the relatively close location to the Jenny Lake westshore trail, rangers made preparations to evacuate Danes by a wheeled-litter handled by four rescuers. Upon reaching Danes by foot, rangers determined that a helicopter short-haul evacuation was the more prudent rescue technique. The decision was made because of a combination of Danes' injuries and the rough and rocky terrain over which the wheeled-litter would be hauled to complete an evacuation by ground.
A Teton Interagency contract helicopter was summoned at 3 p.m. and an aerial evacuation of the injured hiker was completed by 4:15 p.m. Danes was transported by park ambulance to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson for further medical treatment.
Danes is working as a seasonal concession employee in Yellowstone National Park for the summer.
This is now the 7th major search and rescue operation in Grand Teton National Park this summer.
Jeff
Glacier National Park Hiking
Other day hikers who were in the Hanging Canyon area heard cries for help and discovered Danes. They provided basic care for his injuries and placed a cell phone call for help at 12:45 p.m. that was received by Teton Interagency Dispatch Center.
Based upon the call and the relatively close location to the Jenny Lake westshore trail, rangers made preparations to evacuate Danes by a wheeled-litter handled by four rescuers. Upon reaching Danes by foot, rangers determined that a helicopter short-haul evacuation was the more prudent rescue technique. The decision was made because of a combination of Danes' injuries and the rough and rocky terrain over which the wheeled-litter would be hauled to complete an evacuation by ground.
A Teton Interagency contract helicopter was summoned at 3 p.m. and an aerial evacuation of the injured hiker was completed by 4:15 p.m. Danes was transported by park ambulance to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson for further medical treatment.
Danes is working as a seasonal concession employee in Yellowstone National Park for the summer.
This is now the 7th major search and rescue operation in Grand Teton National Park this summer.
Jeff
Glacier National Park Hiking
Monday, June 18, 2012
Canoe Capsized and Hiker Falls on Snowfield in Glacier NP
Glacier National Park Rangers responded to two serious incidents this past weekend involving an injured hiker and a capsized canoe.
On Friday, June 15, eight individuals were climbing Mount Sinopah near Two Medicine Lake on the east side of the park. At approximately 6 p.m. one of the hikers, a 21-year old female, fell on a snowfield and was unable to self arrest, or stop the fall. The individual slid on approximately 200 feet of snow and then slid through approximately 10 feet of cliff bands at the bottom of the snowfield. The hiker only had general day-hiking gear. Two of the individuals from the hiking group traveled approximately four miles to the Glacier Park Boat Company on Two Medicine Lake to report the incident. Park rangers responded and encountered the injured hiker and the rest of the hiking party at a trail junction below Mount Sinopah. Park rangers assessed the injuries and transported the injured hiker by boat to the Two Medicine Boat Dock where an ambulance was waiting. The hiker had minor injuries.
On Saturday afternoon, June 16, employees of the Glacier Park Boat Company reported a capsized canoe and two people in the water on Lake McDonald. The boat company employees rescued the individuals from the water and transported them to the Lake McDonald Lodge where rangers assessed their condition and transported the individuals to their vehicle. The rangers also retrieved the canoe and returned it to the individuals. The boaters were wearing life jackets.
Hikers and climbers visiting some of the higher elevations in the park should expect snow and ice, and be prepared for changing weather conditions. It is important to know the terrain you are about to hike or climb, and carry the appropriate equipment. When hiking may include snowfield travel, visitors should know how to travel in such challenging conditions, including knowing how to use crampons and an ice axe. It is also recommended to have extra clothing, appropriate maps, first-aid kit, water and food. Always communicate to someone your planned route of travel and your expected time of return.
Park visitors are also reminded to be prepared for cold, high and fast moving waters in the park during spring and early summer. Always wear a life jacket when boating, and use caution when crossing or stepping near bodies of water.
Jeff
Hiking in Glacier.com
On Friday, June 15, eight individuals were climbing Mount Sinopah near Two Medicine Lake on the east side of the park. At approximately 6 p.m. one of the hikers, a 21-year old female, fell on a snowfield and was unable to self arrest, or stop the fall. The individual slid on approximately 200 feet of snow and then slid through approximately 10 feet of cliff bands at the bottom of the snowfield. The hiker only had general day-hiking gear. Two of the individuals from the hiking group traveled approximately four miles to the Glacier Park Boat Company on Two Medicine Lake to report the incident. Park rangers responded and encountered the injured hiker and the rest of the hiking party at a trail junction below Mount Sinopah. Park rangers assessed the injuries and transported the injured hiker by boat to the Two Medicine Boat Dock where an ambulance was waiting. The hiker had minor injuries.
On Saturday afternoon, June 16, employees of the Glacier Park Boat Company reported a capsized canoe and two people in the water on Lake McDonald. The boat company employees rescued the individuals from the water and transported them to the Lake McDonald Lodge where rangers assessed their condition and transported the individuals to their vehicle. The rangers also retrieved the canoe and returned it to the individuals. The boaters were wearing life jackets.
Hikers and climbers visiting some of the higher elevations in the park should expect snow and ice, and be prepared for changing weather conditions. It is important to know the terrain you are about to hike or climb, and carry the appropriate equipment. When hiking may include snowfield travel, visitors should know how to travel in such challenging conditions, including knowing how to use crampons and an ice axe. It is also recommended to have extra clothing, appropriate maps, first-aid kit, water and food. Always communicate to someone your planned route of travel and your expected time of return.
Park visitors are also reminded to be prepared for cold, high and fast moving waters in the park during spring and early summer. Always wear a life jacket when boating, and use caution when crossing or stepping near bodies of water.
Jeff
Hiking in Glacier.com
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